An improved method for extracting a precious metal from mineral fines by heap leaching with dilute sulfuric acid which comprises agglomerating the mineral fines prior to formation into a heap with an agglomerating agent composition comprising sequential addition of a first polymer and then a second polymer to the fines. Preferred first polymers are poly(acrylamide) and 70/30 mole percent poly(acrylamide/sodium acrylate), and preferred second polymers are poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride), 90/10 mole percent poly(acrylamide/diallyldimethylammonium chloride) and 99/1 mole percent poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride/vinyltrimethoxysilane).